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  • Entire computer is having bad problems and I have no idea why.....
2007-04-04 18:44:09
bobby177
Member
+129|6940|Texas.. getting out asap
To start off, here are the system specs.
Windows XP Home Edition
Pentium IV 3.00Ghz
4x 512 (2048)MB PC2-3200 RAM
Intel i925x Dell Motherboard
350W Dell PSU
Nvidia 7600GT
Creative X-Fi Fatal1ty Extreme Gamer Edition sound card

--------------------------------------------

Now on to the problems (they seem to all be related)

1. Whenever I close a program, my entire computer FREEZES for about 3 seconds. It isn't because it was on the page file (It does the same thing regardless if it is on or not), it is just a freeze with absolutely no activity.

2. Games I used to be able to run on all high (BF2) now just barely run on all low.

3. New hard drive I got makes entire computer choppy whenever there is activity

-----------------------------------

Things to note :

I ran 3 passes of MemTest86 with no errors 10 minutes ago.
Have never had any viruses/spyware/adware besides from a few tracking cookies.
The hard drive thing is not a power supply problem - I just took out everything but 1 stick of RAM and it still got all choppy.


If you help me solve this I will give you karma forever.
If you totally fix it, I will paypal you 15$

Last edited by bobby177 (2007-04-04 18:48:31)

2007-04-04 18:49:36
Madhadda1
Member
+270|7011|Cedar Rapids, Iowa
check your messages
2007-04-04 18:51:57
Reddhedd
trolawlawl
+188|6911|EE Chat
You monitor might not be good enough to run all of those systems...that sounds kind of like what happened to me a few months ago. Who knows with computers
2007-04-04 18:59:55
The Stillhouse Kid
Licensed Televulcanologist
+126|7108|Deep In The South Of Texas
You may have mentioned doing it before(I dunno, you say you took everything out but 1 stick o' RAM), but have you taken the new drive out and seen if the problem continues? If so then the drive is probably a clunker. If not then another component is probably dying, likely the PSU or mobo.
2007-04-04 19:00:51
Flaming_Maniac
prince of insufficient light
+2,490|7173|67.222.138.85
Have you ever illegally downloaded anything?
2007-04-04 19:04:17
bobby177
Member
+129|6940|Texas.. getting out asap

Flaming_Maniac wrote:

Have you ever illegally downloaded anything?
Ummm..... maybe


The Stillhouse Kid wrote:

You may have mentioned doing it before(I dunno, you say you took everything out but 1 stick o' RAM), but have you taken the new drive out and seen if the problem continues? If so then the drive is probably a clunker. If not then another component is probably dying, likely the PSU or mobo.
The problematic hard drive isn't even connected right now.
2007-04-04 19:05:17
Yaocelotl
:D
+221|7116|Keyboard
For starters, that windows home edition is crap, get a handle of the pro version of XP and most of your problems will go away. You should also check your task manager to see how many processes you are running at the time, if they are a lot you can shut them down (yes, they start automatically when you turn on your computer).

I´ve never use any antivirii because they suck up RAM, so I tweak my computer correctly to avoid getting anything such as malware/trojans/spyware. Good luck in your quest.
2007-04-04 19:07:37
bobby177
Member
+129|6940|Texas.. getting out asap

Yaocelotl wrote:

For starters, that windows home edition is crap, get a handle of the pro version of XP and most of your problems will go away. You should also check your task manager to see how many processes you are running at the time, if they are a lot you can shut them down (yes, they start automatically when you turn on your computer).

I´ve never use any antivirii because they suck up RAM, so I tweak my computer correctly to avoid getting anything such as malware/trojans/spyware. Good luck in your quest.
No more processes than what I need are running. I really don't think it is going to be that simple lol.
2007-04-04 19:30:04
The Stillhouse Kid
Licensed Televulcanologist
+126|7108|Deep In The South Of Texas

bobby177 wrote:

The Stillhouse Kid wrote:

You may have mentioned doing it before(I dunno, you say you took everything out but 1 stick o' RAM), but have you taken the new drive out and seen if the problem continues? If so then the drive is probably a clunker. If not then another component is probably dying, likely the PSU or mobo.
The problematic hard drive isn't even connected right now.
Hate to say it , but your PSU is probably the culprit. A 7600GT requires a minimum 400w with 18A on the 12v rail, while you have a 350w that doubtless doesn't meet the amperage requirement either. Putting this much of a demand on an underpowered unit can cause all kinds of problems, including the ones you're having.
2007-04-04 19:34:45
bobby177
Member
+129|6940|Texas.. getting out asap

The Stillhouse Kid wrote:

bobby177 wrote:

The Stillhouse Kid wrote:

You may have mentioned doing it before(I dunno, you say you took everything out but 1 stick o' RAM), but have you taken the new drive out and seen if the problem continues? If so then the drive is probably a clunker. If not then another component is probably dying, likely the PSU or mobo.
The problematic hard drive isn't even connected right now.
Hate to say it , but your PSU is probably the culprit. A 7600GT requires a minimum 400w with 18A on the 12v rail, while you have a 350w that doubtless doesn't meet the amperage requirement either. Putting this much of a demand on an underpowered unit can cause all kinds of problems, including the ones you're having.
Actually newegg said it was minimum 350. But to upgrade I need to find a Dell compatible PSU, which I heard is not easy.
2007-04-04 19:51:40
The Stillhouse Kid
Licensed Televulcanologist
+126|7108|Deep In The South Of Texas
Even so, you're still running at the minimum, which almost never provides good performance. In general Dell puts in a PSU that can run what is in the box when it's bought, with little or no concern for upgradability.

Check with your computer's model # and see if you can find a replacement here:

http://www.pcpower.com/products/power_supplies/dell/
2007-04-04 19:55:33
Kmar
Truth is my Bitch
+5,695|7067|132 and Bush

http://www.majorgeeks.com/Passmark_Burn … d4234.html
Give it a try.
Xbone Stormsurgezz
2007-04-04 19:57:07
montypythizzle
Member
+21|7069
Did you put a fresh clean install of regular XP on there not dell's shit?
2007-04-04 19:58:30
maffiaw
ph33r me 傻逼
+40|6887|Melbourne, AUS
I think your PSU might be having a hard time keeping things running, especially if you keep adding more parts in i.e. HDD.

ALso, think about doing a bit of spring vacuuming in the pc.
2007-04-04 20:15:31
bobby177
Member
+129|6940|Texas.. getting out asap

maffiaw wrote:

ALso, think about doing a bit of spring vacuuming in the pc.
Already did.


montypythizzle wrote:

Did you put a fresh clean install of regular XP on there not dell's shit?
Wish I could.... I don't have any windows XP CDs
2007-04-04 20:32:33
bobby177
Member
+129|6940|Texas.. getting out asap

Kmarion wrote:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/Passmark_BurnInTest_Standard_d4234.html
Give it a try.
Everything 100% for 20 minutes no errors.
2007-04-04 20:54:58
Kmar
Truth is my Bitch
+5,695|7067|132 and Bush

bobby177 wrote:

Kmarion wrote:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/Passmark_BurnInTest_Standard_d4234.html
Give it a try.
Everything 100% for 20 minutes no errors.
That leads me to believe you have something wrong with your OS. Start backing up .
Xbone Stormsurgezz
2007-04-04 21:00:48
bobby177
Member
+129|6940|Texas.. getting out asap

Kmarion wrote:

bobby177 wrote:

Kmarion wrote:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/Passmark_BurnInTest_Standard_d4234.html
Give it a try.
Everything 100% for 20 minutes no errors.
That leads me to believe you have something wrong with your OS. Start backing up .
Oh and I forgot to add, about 50% of the time I start up my computer I will get a blue screen for either NMI: Memory Parity Error, or Error: Write to Read only Memory. So it usually takes 2 or 3 tries to get my PC running. Is it about to die?
2007-04-04 21:12:42
Kmar
Truth is my Bitch
+5,695|7067|132 and Bush

bobby177 wrote:

Kmarion wrote:

bobby177 wrote:

Everything 100% for 20 minutes no errors.
That leads me to believe you have something wrong with your OS. Start backing up .
Oh and I forgot to add, about 50% of the time I start up my computer I will get a blue screen for either NMI: Memory Parity Error, or Error: Write to Read only Memory. So it usually takes 2 or 3 tries to get my PC running. Is it about to die?
Wow I know you ran memtest but when you get your system giving you ROM errors it is a typical symptom of bad memory. Lets test your current hard drive also http://www.majorgeeks.com/HDTach_d672.html . Post your results.

Last edited by Kmarion (2007-04-04 21:14:08)

Xbone Stormsurgezz
2007-04-04 21:20:07
some_random_panda
Flamesuit essential
+454|6857

bobby177 wrote:

maffiaw wrote:

ALso, think about doing a bit of spring vacuuming in the pc.
Already did.


montypythizzle wrote:

Did you put a fresh clean install of regular XP on there not dell's shit?
Wish I could.... I don't have any windows XP CDs
They didn't give you a CD?!
Are you sure?  Even my Dimension 4600 came with an XP CD.
2007-04-04 21:44:39
leftoverkiller
Member
+9|6929
i had almost the same problem on my old IBM. just add a few blue screens of death. after days of testing memory and hard drives, removing different components and a few OS re installs i took the whole machine apart and found a burnt spot on the back of the mobo in the area of dimm slot 1.  your problems sound just like the ones i had. that machine could pass every test i through at it. so i bought a FlipPOST (PCI & ISA Bus Motherboard Test Card) and it gave me a code that told me mobo failure. the tester has saved me hours of headaches when i get service calls for machines that wont boot of has intermittent problems during start up or random shut downs. if the machine passes on the tester or no codes are displayed i know I'm looking for an OS problem or a bad hardware config. then its back to the basics that i learned in school.
2007-04-04 21:49:31
Ender2309
has joined the GOP
+470|7037|USA

leftoverkiller wrote:

i had almost the same problem on my old IBM. just add a few blue screens of death. after days of testing memory and hard drives, removing different components and a few OS re installs i took the whole machine apart and found a burnt spot on the back of the mobo in the area of dimm slot 1.  your problems sound just like the ones i had. that machine could pass every test i through at it. so i bought a FlipPOST (PCI & ISA Bus Motherboard Test Card) and it gave me a code that told me mobo failure. the tester has saved me hours of headaches when i get service calls for machines that wont boot of has intermittent problems during start up or random shut downs. if the machine passes on the tester or no codes are displayed i know I'm looking for an OS problem or a bad hardware config. then its back to the basics that i learned in school.
link? that sounds like a useful piece of hardware.
2007-04-04 21:51:27
leftoverkiller
Member
+9|6929

Ender2309 wrote:

leftoverkiller wrote:

i had almost the same problem on my old IBM. just add a few blue screens of death. after days of testing memory and hard drives, removing different components and a few OS re installs i took the whole machine apart and found a burnt spot on the back of the mobo in the area of dimm slot 1.  your problems sound just like the ones i had. that machine could pass every test i through at it. so i bought a FlipPOST (PCI & ISA Bus Motherboard Test Card) and it gave me a code that told me mobo failure. the tester has saved me hours of headaches when i get service calls for machines that wont boot of has intermittent problems during start up or random shut downs. if the machine passes on the tester or no codes are displayed i know I'm looking for an OS problem or a bad hardware config. then its back to the basics that i learned in school.
link? that sounds like a useful piece of hardware.
http://www.pc-diagnostics.com/pc_diagno … _bus.shtml
2007-04-05 01:47:36
beerface702
Member
+65|7159|las vegas
rip that crap mobo and psu out

and you should be fine

hell an ECS would do better
2007-04-05 02:07:49
corce
Member
+2|7049
Some of the advice here has been pretty bad, but then this isn't the best place to post questions about pc problems.

I haven't seen if you have formatted or not, I guess not if you think you don't have an XP CD. This is really the first step, you could just repair the install and see if that works, but ideally reinstall to get rid of an third party app that may be causing problems, if you got xp with your system there will be an xp CD or a recovery disk of some sort. If you pirated the OS then you need to do whatever you did to get the OS reinstalled.

Whether there is a software element to this or not, you definately have a hardware problem, evidenced by your bad start ups, but what hardware has failed is almost impossible to say, I would lean towards your motherboard as the most likely culprit, mostly because the problem is on startup and the memory passes memtest once past that sticking point. You could try updating your motherboard firmware.

It could also be a RAM or psu problem, these two are the most common cause of all crashes, but not usually specific errors like you are receiving. You may find that something has caused more than one of these components to partially fail, perhaps including the cpu, the only way you can find out is to replace component by component until the problem goes away. However, if 99% of your problems go away with the software reinstall then you can probably live with the flaky start up until you can afford to replace parts or the whole system. If you are not tech savvy then you may save your self time and money by taking your system to a computer shop, they will be able to swap out hardware until they find out exactly what is causing the problem.

 

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